Integrating Pharmacotherapy with Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation after Oral Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Background: Oral cancer treatment frequently causes persistent impairments in swallowing, mastication, speech, salivary and oral function, nutrition, physical capacity, and social participation. Rehabilitation is increasingly recognized as a continuum of care spanning pre-treatment, active treatment, and survivorship, yet medication management is rarely considered explicitly within the rehabilitation pathway. Objective: This narrative review examined how pharmacotherapy and pharmaceutical care may be integrated with multidisciplinary rehabilitation after oral cancer treatment. Methods: Targeted literature searches identified evidence on oral and head and neck cancer rehabilitation, treatment-related symptoms, supportive pharmacotherapy, medication-related problems, and clinical-pharmacy services. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized trials, clinical guidance, and directly relevant observational studies were prioritized, and the evidence was synthesized thematically with emphasis on functional outcomes and multidisciplinary care. Results: Current evidence supports rehabilitation addressing swallowing, jaw mobility, speech, oral health, nutrition, exercise, shoulder function, and participation, although intervention protocols and outcome measures remain heterogeneous. Symptom-directed pharmacotherapy is relevant to pain, xerostomia, and mucositis. Medication-related problems are also common in head and neck cancer, and clinical-pharmacist services can identify and address these problems. However, direct evidence linking structured pharmaceutical care to rehabilitation participation and functional outcomes remains limited. Discussion: A five-stage, function-oriented pharmacotherapy–rehabilitation interface is therefore proposed as a hypothesis-generating framework rather than an established treatment algorithm. Conclusion: Integrating medication review with multidisciplinary rehabilitation may improve coordination of supportive care, but prospective studies are needed to determine whether this approach improves functional and patient-reported outcomes.